PA Olympic official praises judoka athlete who refused to compete against Israeli sportsman at the Olympics

Video and text posted on the Facebook page of Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub

Video:

Text on screen: “Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine rejects normalization and supports the Palestinian cause (i.e., he refused to compete against an Israeli)

The Algerian judoka announced he was withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics

in order to avoid a potential encounter with the Israeli athlete

[Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee] Lt. Gen. Jibril Rajoub visited the judoka where he was staying

and thanked him for the loyal Algerian affiliation with Palestine”

Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub: “This (i.e., Nourine refusing to compete against an Israeli) expresses the real and deep-rooted Algerian affiliation with Palestine, with the cause of Palestine. The best of blessings to the Algerian people and blessings to this great athlete [Nourine]. We wish you all the best, calmness, and stability.”

Text on screen: “Nourine expressed his firm position regarding the Palestinian cause while refusing to shake hands with the Israeli athlete.”

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine: “Our position is firm and we are not retracting it. There have been Olympic Games, but Allah willing, My Lord will compensate me. The announcement [of my suspension by the International Judo Federation] came out of the blue. It was a light trauma, I did not expect it, but Allah be praised, the Palestinian cause must be above all else. We will not raise the Israeli flag and will not shake their hands.”

Jibril Rajoub also serves as Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).